Thursday, August 29, 2013

Mom exploring Paradise to Sunrise and beyond



My mother was coming to visit Crystal Mountain and  Mt. Rainier.  I picked her up at the train station in Centrailia.




The weather was supposed to rain, but it looked rather good so I decided to check out Paradise on Mt. Rainier's west side.  Here is in National Park Inn on the way up to Paradise.




We stopped in the Ranger Station and they had this cool 3-D topo map, and I could show my mother all the places I have been.   




Here is Narda falls.




It was a beautiful waterfall from the Nisqully Glacier.  We saw some Washington Conservation Corps workers there as well.





Here we are hiking some of Paradises trails.  This one is the Nisqually Vista Trail.  My mother in her Mountain Hardwear ranger's cap.




Here is Paradise Lodge, built in 1916 it is a work of art.




Here is Box Canyon, I think the water was between 150-180 feet down.  It was craved out by glaciers.


 

The seconds day after resting at the Alpine Inn on Crystal Mountain we went up to Sunrise.  Here is the visitors center.




He hiked up Dege Peak.



My mother did excellent and we made it to the top and had the place to ourselves minus the cairns and wildlife.




Summit shot of Dege Peak elevation 7,006 ft.  




A friendly Marmot.



The sunrise snack bar and Dege Peak in the background.    We got some coffee and then decided to go the the Snorting Elk for dinner.




 A trip to Crystal Mountain wouldn't be complete without a trip on the Gondola.  The weather wasn't co-operating but we did not get rained on the whole time.




Making our way to the summit in style.




All and all a great trip even if we couldn't get a complete look at Mt. Rainier, all of the sub peaks were visible and I had a good time showing my mother around my new home.

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